Page 30 - OHS, June 2024

PPE: RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
How To Decide Which Supplied Air Respirator Is Best
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Choosing the right supplied air respirator involves understanding specific hazards,
regulatory requirements, and ensuring proper fit and comfort to maintain worker safety in
toxic environments.
BY SYLVIA FONTES
Choosing a supplied air respirator (SAR) can be a stressful task. Even if you pay top dollar and shop with a trusted supplier, there’s no guarantee the SAR you choose is best for your situation.
How then can you confirm the supplied air respirator you buy is the best fit for your needs? That’s simple: Let’s discuss what a SAR is, why you might need one (or a lot of them) and the factors to consider before making an informed decision.
What Is a Supplied Air Respirator?
Supplied air respirators are a type of personal protective equip- ment (PPE) that provides clean, breathable air to the user, even in a toxic environment. Some of the work required in abrasive blasting, construction work, mining and many other jobs would be consid- erably more difficult (or even impossible) without the assistance of supplied air respirators.
Here are three common situations where using a SAR is either suggested or required:
otherwise be harmful to human health
■ Inadequate oxygen level environments where the oxygen
level currently is or could become deficient
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■ Contaminated environments where the air could or would Occupational Health & Safety | JUNE 2024
How Can I Choose the Right Supplied Air Respirator?
Selecting the correct supplied air respirator requires you to assess the hazards, work conditions and regulatory requirements under which the SAR will be deployed. Ideally, you can find a SAR that not only adequately protects the health of your workers but also allows them to perform their tasks effectively and comfortably.
Here is a list of factors to consider and determine before you buy SAR equipment:
■ Type of hazard. Understand the specific hazard present in the environment. What contaminants are present and at what con- centrations? What is the oxygen level in the environment?
■ Duration of exposure. Consider how long workers will be exposed to hazardous conditions. This will impact the type of SAR and air supply you need.
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Confined space entry where there are atmospheric hazards